Access Local Drive From Remote Desktop on Windows 10/11

Editorial Team Feb 13, 2025

Accessing local drives while working on a remote desktop can greatly enhance productivity, especially when transferring files or working with external storage devices. In this article, we’ll guide you step-by-step on how to configure Windows Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) to map and access local drives during a remote desktop session on Windows 10 and 11.

By the end of this guide, you’ll learn how to seamlessly share local resources, such as USB drives and external hard drives, with a remote desktop. This not only makes file management more efficient but also eliminates the hassle of manually transferring files between devices. Whether you’re troubleshooting, collaborating, or working remotely, this tutorial will ensure you can fully utilize local drives in your remote desktop setup.

Table of Contents:

Set Up Remote Desktop to Mount Local Drives
Map Local Drive in Remote Desktop

Set Up Remote Desktop to Mount Local Drives

Mapping local drives in a remote desktop session doesn’t have to be complicated. Using Remote Desktop Connection (RDC), you can easily share local drives and resources with remote Windows servers or PCs.

Remote Desktop Connection is a built-in Windows tool that facilitates remote desktop sessions by leveraging Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). This powerful feature enables seamless access to remote machines, making it ideal for business, collaboration, or remote support.

All editions of Windows 10, and Windows Server include RDC by default. Keep reading to find out how to let PCs running Windows 10 show local drive in remote desktop sessions.

Microsoft not only provides RDP-functioning software that connects to Windows from a Mac, but it also works for mobile platforms like iOS and Android, too. Alternatively, Mac users can share Mac files/folders to a Windows desktop simply by using the Remote Desktop app’s Redirection tab.

For Windows users, Remote Desktop Connection is built-in by default and permits the configuration of file and folder sharing before a connection being established.

Configure Remote Desktop Manager to Map Local Drive

Open the Remote Desktop Connection tool. Locate this either in the Windows Start menu or by pressing the “W”+”R” keys and typing “mstsc” in the dialog box.

Note: The initial launch of Remote Desktop Connection will seem quite simple. Most often, users would enter the IP address of the remote computer and click the connect button. However, in this instance, before being able to access local files and folders, some extra configuration is required before connecting.

Click “Show Options” from the Remote Desktop Connection window (this displays RDC’s configuration options).

Access remote desktop sharing settings by clicking the Local Resources tab.

Under the Local Devices and Resources section, click “More” (users can configure RDC to share specific devices with a remote PC from the Local Devices and Resources box).

Click the “+” arrow beside “Drives”, thus expanding the section and allowing the user to share the desired local files and folders.

Note: Users can share any available Windows drives while inside the Drives section. For example, any attached optical drives (like CD drives, DVD drives, or portable storage devices - like flash drives) can be shared if the user thinks they’ll need to connect to it in the future.

To share storage with a remote machine, click any of the desired checkboxes and hit “OK”.

Return to the General tab once all drive sharing settings are configured.

In the General tab, enter the server or remote PC’s IP address in the Computer field (located beneath the “log on Settings” section).

Hit “Connect” to initiate and establish a connection.

Open Windows File Explorer upon a successful connection to a remote desktop session.

Note: To open Windows File Explorer, simply right-click the Start menu and click "File Explorer".

Once inside the File Explorer, users will see all shared devices listed beneath the Redirect Drives and Folders section.

How to Map a Local Drive in Remote Desktop

Mapping local drives in a remote desktop session is a straightforward process that enables efficient file transfers between your local and remote machines.

Follow these steps to set it up:

Transferring Files in a Remote Desktop Session
- • Locate the files you want to transfer on the remote machine.
- • Click the Home tab at the top of the window.
- • Select Move to > Choose Location and pick the destination folder for the transfer.
Mapping a Local Drive in RDP

To enable file transfers via local drive mapping:

Step 1: Launch PowerShell in the RDP Session

Open PowerShell on the remote desktop.
Run the following command to display the redirected drives:

net use

Step 2: Map Local Drives to a Network Drive Letter

Run the following command to map the local drives:

net use \\tsclient
This command redirects your local drives to the remote desktop.

Step 3: Verify the Drive Mapping

Open Windows Explorer on the remote machine.
Navigate to the Network Locations section.
You should see the mapped drives listed there.
Any files copied to the remote computer’s mapped drive will also appear on the corresponding local drive.

For scenarios where native drive mapping falls short, such as USB storage devices that need full pass-through or drives with vendor-specific drivers, a dedicated software for USB over RDP like USB Network Gate redirects the physical USB drive to the remote session as if it were locally attached.

Accessing and mapping local drives in Remote Desktop is a simple yet powerful feature that enhances productivity, enabling seamless file transfers and resource sharing. By following this guide, you can efficiently configure and verify drive mappings, ensuring a smooth workflow during remote desktop sessions. Whether you're working from home or managing remote systems, this functionality is an indispensable tool for maximizing efficiency.